Eclipse in Leo-Aquarius, and the Courage in Truth

Dear Friend and Reader:

The Sun entering Leo today begins the process of two eclipses on the Leo-Aquarius axis. The first takes place Friday: a total lunar eclipse in Aquarius, conjunct retrograde Mars -- followed by a partial solar eclipse in Leo itself.

We're also approaching the peak of the summer season, with the Sun in its sign of rulership; and one of the cross-quarter days, Lughnasadh (pronounced lunessa), celebrated by neo-Pagans the first week of August, as the Sun nears the Leo midpoint.

A total lunar eclipse in progress, in 2014, over Katmai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Apart from the eclipses, the standout aspect of the week is retrograde Mars opposite Pallas, with both conjunct the nodes.

Pallas is the goddess of protection, law and diplomacy, placed on the cutting-edge North Node of the Moon. This shows a potential direction we might head in: trying to work things out. That might require letting go some of the "strong ego" quality for which Leo is famous.

Mars retrograde in Aquarius describes either a group dynamic, or one person expressing their individuality, pitted against a group of some kind. So we have two dynamics set up against one another, amplified by the nodes. The setup is more a question than an answer. Which dynamic rules? How does the group treat the individual? What is the relationship between the one and the many?

Another prominent feature of this week's astrology is Venus in Virgo opposing Neptune in Pisces, which happens Tuesday. This aspect speaks of the nature of discernment and boundaries within relationships. Many people have something of a blind spot when it comes to both what they want and what they don't want. You might consider that you don't need to settle for anything less than what you desire with your whole soul.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the day before the lunar eclipse, Mercury stations retrograde in Leo. Mercury will be spending its entire retrograde phase here: in a naturally creative sign, which opens the possibility of innovative ways of thinking, and fresh, quirky solutions to longstanding problems.

On the other hand, speaking of "strong ego," Mercury in Leo can also be given to exaggeration and hyperbole, as well as boasting. In the internet age, when everyone is a blogger, this is sometimes an easy temptation, and you can find yourself slipping across the line between a good story and playing with the truth. To paraphrase the author Susan Coolidge, fiction definitely has a place, so long as you don't try to make people believe it's real.

Understanding yourself and your motivations is essential to communicating honestly. Forget the idea that there is a specific image you need to present to the world. Even in the hall of mirrors that is the internet, you can offer simple, clear thoughts and feelings without any embellishments or drama attached. Remember, this too is a form of courage.

With love,

-- with Amy Elliott The Sacred Space of Self The Perfect Video Readings for the Eclipse Zone

"You're the best! I love your readings and I appreciate this; share so much as a Cancer with Cap rising, especially. Lots of insight! Thank you so much."
-- L.J. Innes, on the Sacred Space of Self sampler video

Dear Friend and Reader:

I just wanted to be sure you've had a chance to watch the sample videos we have available for the Sacred Space of Self spring reading. If current events have you feeling overwhelmed or a little raw, you might find some solace and inspiration here to keep plugging away at whatever challenges you face now.

Currently all four of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) are compiled in one video. We're working on separating those into individual samples -- although, if you have one of those signs as your Sun or rising sign, you'll definitely get great insight from watching the whole compilation.

The fixed and mutable sign samples are available individually (each is linked from the sign name). The cardinal sign links go to where the sample for each sign begins in the compilation video.

Aries		Taurus		Gemini	Cancer		Leo		Virgo
Libra		Scorpio		Sagittarius	Capricorn		Aquarius		Pisces

Please note that those are only very short excerpts of the Sacred Space of Self readings! Each sign's complete video is a full 30-50 minutes long.

You can order individual signs of the Sacred Space of Self here. Or, go all-in for the complete 12-sign set, and you can watch the videos for your loved ones, too.

"I enjoyed these videos and all of them are surprisingly, completely in-depth. Well, not so surprisingly if you have heard Eric speak on other subjects."
-- Samantha Hampton, on the 2018 Sacred Space of Self readings

If you have any questions (including questions about arrangements for financial hardship), please email us at cs@planetwaves.net -- or, call us at (845) 481-5616.

Wishing you well,

Amanda Painter

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Listen to Vision Quest on Live Stream

Planet Waves has an in-house music ensemble, called Vision Quest. We have a 38-hour loop of our music, which you can listen to any time. Included are finished pieces, rehearsals, live concerts, drum grooves, and spoken word recordings. I consider it a kind of musical divination. Click in randomly at different times of day and see what you discover.

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Our Gifts to You: A Little Something Extra

Dear Friend and Reader:

It took me a long time to figure out what kind of gift to offer for new and returning subscribers. Tee shirts seemed too complicated; you need at least six sizes to get started, and not everyone wants a shirt. Tote bags are useful but kind of boring.

So I thought: journals. I love notebooks, and just about everything I write starts scribbled down on paper. I know my readers are a little old-fashioned, so this seemed like the perfect thing.

Black smaller, pink larger, embossed with the Planet Waves logo. There are a few hand painted sketchbooks left, with heavy, acid-free paper.

Then...I researched embossed journals for about six months. That’s how long it took. I requested or purchased samples of the best that suppliers had, and all kinds of stuff came floating in the door. It was more challenging than I imagined to find a nice one, though finally I did.

Everything had to be right: the paper, the lines, and how the book feels in your hands.

However, the one I selected was being discontinued. I ordered as many as we could reasonably afford. We now have two main options: small black ones, and larger pink ones (these are new).

Together, they are the approximate color of Good & Plenty candy. I am one of these people who loves anything pink (sweatshirts, nail polish, headbands, a hot pink Squier guitar that I gave to Zosha a few years ago). We also have a few hand-painted notebooks left, which are acid-free sketchbooks.

You can get an embossed notebook with any monthly, quarterly or yearly membership to Planet Waves. If, by the way, there's a calling for hand-painted ones, I will make one more-or-less to your preferences (for those who sign up for a full-year Backstage Pass).

Continue reading this letter here.
Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for July on Thursday, June 21. Your extended monthly horoscopes for June were published on Thursday, May 24. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- A particular theme exemplified by the astrological houses deals with the story of how and where we merge our identity with other people and with groups, and where we emerge into our separate selves. One way of accomplishing the latter is to work on something creative, or a project that's uniquely yours and expresses a part of you. Should you feel unsure of where society ends and you begin, experimenting with artistic ideas is a way to help you establish that line. Don't worry if you've not explored this previously, or are concerned about making mistakes. Give yourself the room, and the time, you need to play around trying different techniques. Show the world who you really are, and do so proudly. Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- Though your sign has a well-known reputation for being wary of change, Uranus in your sign may be firing your imagination to the extent that you seemingly can't get enough movement. Enjoy learning to surf the waves. Remember, though, that the celestial innovator is visiting you for seven years; so you don't need to undergo a complete transformation all at once. Note also that in order to make successful progress you need to know in which direction you want to shift, and set goals. With two inner planets retrograde together as of July 26, it's a good moment to check in with those details and firm them up a little -- and to ensure you're getting to relax and kick back now and then. Everyone needs at least some downtime. Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Mercury's retrograde phase in your house of communication (beginning this Thursday) might feel as if you're unusually tongue-tied. Yet something deeper is going on. Part of this may manifest in giving voice to feelings or desires you might long have held back, buried in the depths of your mind. You could also find yourself speaking some profound truths. Don't be alarmed if the words take time to come: let them flow as they will. It's the quality of the message that counts, and the present eclipse season suggests that you have something to say that could resonate through the cosmos. Don't be afraid to try to express any thoughts that arise. They will have come to you because you have the power to articulate them, however long that takes. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- The coming month's astrology for your sign touches on the theme of resources, and of resourcefulness. Increasing one's wealth may be a means of likewise increasing one's security; however, it's also helpful to make the most of what's there now. It would seem you have more at hand than you realize: not simply of financial means, necessarily, but of energy, friendships and occupations as well. Try to find ways in which you can draw on what is already available, as opposed to seeking out new objects. Read the books currently on your shelf. Spend time with people you know love you. You might also try making your money go further, though not to the point of stinginess; rather as a way to help you enjoy your present possessions more thoroughly.
Leo Birthdays 2018-19: Leo Eclipses, Part Two: A Year for the Books

"I love your readings! I just finished listening to the first reading. You include the history of what is leading up to the now, and its influence operating in the now, and how my actions now can affect my future! Your readings have a depth and character to them that creates a deeper context and meaning that actually helps this old lady see that I am indeed self-manifesting and self-actualizing and moving forward, feeding my inner kid! I am doing something bigger and better and bolder than in the past and harnessing energy to create a more real me. Thank you!"
-- Bobbie Kithcart, on a previous Leo reading

Dear Friend and Reader:

The Sun has now entered Leo: the heart of Northern Hemisphere summer. Over the next four weeks, we'll experience an eclipse in Leo and an eclipse in Leo's "relationship zone," Aquarius. These will be key events covered in your upcoming 2018-19 Leo Birthday Reading.

If you have your Sun, rising sign or Moon in Leo, this is big news for you. Eclipses are key pattern-setting times, and often present us with unusual opportunities or a sense of moving through a span of compressed time.

Where are you at right now with your most deeply held goals and visions? What has clearly run its course in your life and can be safely let go to lighten your load as you travel onward?

Note also that Uranus is in your house of career calling and reputation, and he's starting to shake things up. Meanwhile, Chiron the awareness-raiser is in your fellow fire sign Aries -- your house of spiritual development, higher education and long-distance travel.

This is shaping up to be quite a year for you, Leos! Eric will be covering all the most important themes of your relationships, career, growth, healing and much more in your Leo Birthday Reading, which you can pre-order here. If you're in need of an astrologically focused life coach, spiritual guide and 'little bird' on your shoulder, this reading could be just what you're looking for.

"Thanks for reassuring this Leo, who is having a year “for the books”! You get to the core of things."
-- Barbara Peaslee

When you pre-order this hour-plus audio reading early, you secure the lowest price Planet Waves offers on these accessible insights and motivating perspectives that will empower you to really live your life -- just $33. As the reading nears publication, the price will increase.

Remember, you can download your audio reading (which comes in two segments of 30 minutes or more) and listen to it as many times as you like throughout the year. You'll also get access to last year's reading, an extended description of your sign, and the chart Eric used in the reading.

Wishing you a most excellent solar year,

Amanda Painter

P.S. Eric's Birthday Readings make heartfelt, truly helpful gifts -- pre-order it for your Leo loved one today!

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Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- The lunar eclipse marking the beginning of your birthday month is pretty exceptional astrology, potentially rivaling last year's momentous eclipse at the very end of your sign. The current event is encouraging you to shine like the star at the heart of our solar system, which rules your sign, and is symbolic of the gift you have of leadership and of example. Naturally, standing in your power will not please everyone. Envy of others' success and the temptation to bring down those who become too strong are both rife in our culture. Forget these things; you have no time to waste on the pettiness of others. Focus on yourself, and on embodying the person you always knew you could be. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- During the course of the next few weeks, you could find yourself questioning many of the beliefs you held about who you are; possibly some new knowledge will find its way to you, giving you fresh insights. It would seem you have untapped reserves of power that you can suddenly see more clearly, and you're learning what you're truly capable of. The sensations may be a little discomfiting at first, but sit with these feelings for a while and curb any tendency you have to judge yourself for any reason. Refrain also from the temptation to bury the emotional content of your discoveries in routines or habits. You need to face the unmasked, unfettered glory of your potential, without fear. Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Your understanding of where you are, in terms of your personal growth or in the outer world, can be enhanced in the next few weeks by paying attention to your spiritual calling, imagination and ideals. You're gaining in self-knowledge, which is an essential part of exploring the world around you. In fact, your focus for a while may need to be on recognizing where your inner realm and the divine intersect with the environment you can see. Or, to borrow from Shakespeare, to discover "tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, / Sermons in stones, and good in everything." There are many places and forms that can evoke this sort of love, helping to strengthen and activate the values you hold most deeply. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- You have the innate skills you need to further your career goals. What might not be completely abundant right now is specific information. Therefore, for the next few weeks, make a point of listening and take time to do some quiet research. Be sure to focus on verifiable and applicable facts, rather than hearsay or speculation, especially where office politics might be involved. Use what you learn to help you consider your overall direction, and note who is likely to support you in your aims. One last: be clear with yourself about seeking what is truly fulfilling for you; don't be tempted to reach for lower-hanging fruit than your abilities merit, and above all make sure it passes muster ethically. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- The next month or so will likely afford you an opportunity to get in contact with your inner compass with unusual clarity and concreteness. Much communication in this realm tends to be rather nebulous or difficult to parse. The trick will be to let the message develop in its own time. With Mars retrograde and Mercury about to be, the information may well appear in parts, or drip through gradually. At the end of August both planets will be direct, the present eclipse season will be over, and you should have a much more decisive picture. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for clues and concentrate on making the most of each day, not forgetting to make room for fun and relaxation. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Retrograde phases are usually a time of turning within, retracing steps and reviewing past progress. By all means consider how far you've come in the past few months -- there have certainly been some changes in your understanding, to say the least. The thing to avoid is getting back into former habits, or stuck in a groove. Now that you seem to be more keenly aware of the effects of particular early life experiences, you can resolve to spend all the rest of your days unhindered by them. Treat any occasional stumbling as a teaching moment. Keeping an eye on your progress, such as through journaling, could be a helpful way to ensure you haven't wandered into a puddle of molasses, or to extricate yourself if you do. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- You've known some challenging moments in recent times, to say the least; but the lunar eclipse in your sign this week is bringing some much-needed sunlight into your life. It won't work if your blinds are shut tight, however, so roll them up and let the warmth flood in. Better still, venture outside and spend time in places and in company that helps you fall in love with the world again. Your sign is thought of by some as detached; but you understand that in reality your heart holds room for more than most. You know how to love unconditionally and generously in a way that perhaps no-one else really does. That means you have an example to offer to the rest of us. Be unabashed about it. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- There is a very specific kind of healing that comes with true, devoted service; a benediction that unblocks the barriers we erect between our human and divine selves. We are all, to a certain extent, creatures of habit; and when our carefully built lives are shaken up, it can feel like being adrift. The act of service is like an anchor; the purpose inherent within it is like the North Star and the constellations pointing the way. Hold on to what you know to be true. Hold on to the true North within your mind, that which guides you impeccably when every external measure seems to change or fail. You know yourself best of all, and you know the worth and the beauty of your mission on this planet. What else truly matters?

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